US20170032158A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20170032158A1
Application number: US15/255,391
Authority: US
Inventors: Ynjiun Paul Wang; Huyu Qu
Original assignee: Hand Held Products Inc
Current assignee: Hand Held Products Inc
Priority date: 2012-01-16
Filing date: 2016-09-02
Publication date: 2017-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-16
Also published as: US9436857B2; US20130181815A1; US10181063B2

Abstract

An encoded information reading (EIR) system can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, and at least one RFID reading device, all communicatively coupled to a system bus. The EIR system can further comprise two or more external antennas electrically coupled to a multiplexing circuit. The multiplexing circuit can be configured to electrically couple each antenna to the RFID reading device by using a time division method or a frequency division method. The external antennas can be disposed according to a spatial pattern configured to provide a spatially continuous RFID signal reception within a pre-defined area or volume. The antennas can be configured to receive RFID signals from a plurality of RFID tags attached to a plurality of items and disposed within a radio frequency range of the antennas. The EIR system can be configured to store in its memory a plurality of responses received from the plurality of RFID tags.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 13/350,970 filed Jan. 16, 2012. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally related to encoded information reading (EIR) systems and is specifically related to EIR systems including radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

RFID methods are widely used in a number of applications, including smart cards, item tracking in manufacturing and retail, etc. An RFID tag can be attached, e.g., to an inventory item. An EIR system can be equipped with an RFID reader to read the memory of an RFID tag attached to an inventory item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided an encoded information reading (EIR) system comprising a microprocessor, a memory, and at least one RFID reading device, all communicatively coupled to a system bus. The EIR system can further comprise two or more external antennas electrically coupled to a multiplexing circuit via coaxial cables. The multiplexing circuit can be configured to electrically couple each antenna to the RFID reading device by using a time division method or a frequency division method. The external antennas can be disposed according to a spatial pattern configured to provide a spatially continuous RFID signal reception within a pre-defined area or volume. The antennas can be configured to receive RFID signals from a plurality of RFID tags attached to a plurality of items and disposed within a radio frequency range of the antennas. The EIR system can be configured to store in its memory a plurality of responses received from the plurality of RFID tags.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a component-level diagram of one embodiment of the EIR system;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates one embodiment of a switching algorithm that can be used by an antenna multiplexing circuit;

FIG. 3 schematically depicts one embodiment of a data collection system comprising the EIR system;

FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c,6a,6b,7a,7b,8a,and8billustrate various embodiments of multiple cell metamaterial (MTM) antennas.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, there is provided an encoded information reading (EIR) system comprising at least one radio frequency identifier (RFID) reading device. The RFID reading device can be configured to read and/or modify a memory of an RFID tag containing an encoded message. The RFID reading device can be further configured to output decoded message data corresponding to the encoded message.

The EIR system can further comprise two or more antennas and a multiplexing circuit configured to electrically couple each antenna to the RFID reading device. In one embodiment, the multiplexing circuit can be configured to alternatively couple each antenna to the RFID reading device by implementing a time division technology, so that during a given time slot not more than one antenna of the plurality of antennas is coupled to the RFID reading device. In another embodiment, the multiplexing circuit can be configured to couple each antenna to the RFID reading device by implementing a frequency division technology, as described in details herein infra. Various embodiments of the EIR system can be used in a numerous applications, including but not limited to, item tracking in manufacturing and retail, real-time inventory control systems, etc.

Item tracking and/or inventory control can be implemented by placing an RFID tag on each inventory item. Two or more antennas can be disposed throughout a manufacturing, retail, storage or other facility. The combined reception area of the two or more antennas can be represented by a 2D area or a 3D volume, and can be designed to provide spatially continuous RFID signal reception within the facility. In one embodiment, two or more antennas can be installed on two or more shelves within a warehouse. In another embodiment, two or more antennas can be installed in a vending machine.

Two or more antennas can transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals to and from multiple RFID tags attached to inventory items. An RFID tag can store the tag identifier in its memory. An RFID tag attached to an inventory item can further store in the tag's memory a product code of the item, an EPC code of the item, and/or at least one alphanumeric string identifying the item.

The RFID reading device can be configured to output decoded message data containing, for example, identifiers of the items to which the RFID tags are attached. The EIR system can be configured to store in its memory and/or transmit to an external computer the item identifiers received from the plurality of RFID tags.

Component-level diagram of one embodiment of the EIR system is now being described with references toFIG. 1.EIR system100 can comprise at least one microprocessor and amemory120, both coupled to the system bus170. The microprocessor can be provided by a general purpose microprocessor or by a specialized microprocessor (e.g., an ASIC). In one embodiment, theEIR system100 can comprise a single microprocessor which can be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). In another embodiment, theEIR system100 can comprise two or more microprocessors, for example, a CPU providing some or most of the EIR system functionality and a specialized microprocessor performing some specific functionality. A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that other schemes of processing tasks distribution among two or more microprocessors are within the scope of this disclosure.

TheEIR system100 can further comprise acommunication interface140 communicatively coupled to the system bus170. In one embodiment, the communication interface can be provided by a wireless communication interface. The wireless communication interface can be configured to support, for example, but not limited to, the following protocols: at least one protocol of the IEEE 802.11/802.15/802.16 protocol family, at least one protocol of the HSPA/GSM/GPRS/EDGE protocol family, TDMA protocol, UMTS protocol, LTE protocol, and/or at least one protocol of the CDMA/1xEV-DO protocol family.

TheEIR system100 can further comprise one at least oneRFID reading device133. In one embodiment, theRFID reading device133 can be configured to read a memory of an RFID tag containing an encoded message and to output raw message data containing the encoded message. In another embodiment, theRFID reading device133 can be configured to read a memory of an RFID tag containing an encoded message and to output decoded message data corresponding to the encoded message. As used herein, “message” is intended to denote a character string comprising alphanumeric and/or non-alphanumeric characters. An encoded message can be used to convey information, such as identification of the source and the model of a product, for example, in a UPC code.

TheEIR system100 can further comprise two or more external antennas155a-155z.Each antenna can be electrically coupled via a coaxial cable to amultiplexing circuit150. Themultiplexing circuit150 can be configured to couple each antenna to theRFID reading device133.

In one embodiment, the multiplexing circuit can be configured to alternatively couple each antenna to the RFID reading device by implementing a time division technology, so that during a given time slot not more than one antenna of the plurality of antennas is coupled to the RFID reading device. In a further aspect, themultiplexing circuit150 can implement a round robin algorithm schematically shown inFIG. 2. Themultiplexing circuit150 can select an antenna pointed to by acounter212 from a list220, increment thecounter212, and return the counter to the beginning of the list220 if the end of the list is reached. The selected antenna can be electrically coupled to theRFID reading device133 for a pre-defined period of time, and then the next antenna can be selected from the list. In one embodiment, themultiplexing circuit150 can be configured to switch to the next antenna155a-155zresponsive to establishing that the RF signal strength from the currently connected antenna is below a pre-defined threshold.

In another embodiment, themultiplexing circuit150 can be configured to couple each antenna to the RFID reading device by implementing a frequency division technology. The distance between the antennas can exceed the effecting RF signal reception range by each antenna, and hence two or more antennas can transmit or receive two or more RF signals simultaneously. In order to distinguish the two or more RF signals within the RFID reading device, the signals received by each antenna can be frequency-shifted up or down by themultiplexing circuit150 before feeding the signal into the RFID reading device, and signals to be transmitted by each antenna can be frequency-shifted up or down by themultiplexing circuit150 before feeding the signals into the transmitting antenna, so that non-overlapping frequency ranges are assigned by themultiplexing circuit150 to each antenna signals within the RFD reading device.

In a further aspect, themultiplexing circuit150 can be implemented in hardware, software, or using both hardware and software components.

In one embodiment, theEIR system100 can further comprise a software module for processing the data received from the plurality of RFID tags.

In one embodiment, theEIR system100 can further comprise adisplay adapter175 and akeyboard179 allowing an operator of theEIR system100 to select and visualize the data received from the plurality of RFID tags.

In one embodiment, theEIR system100 can further comprise apower supply181 provided, e.g., by an AC converter and/or by a battery. The components of theEIR system100 can be incorporated into a variety of different housings including a portable housing and a housing which can be mounted on a fixed structure within a retail, manufacturing or storage facility.

In one embodiment, theEIR system100 can be configured to communicate to anexternal computer171 as schematically shown inFIG. 3. TheEIR system100 can be communicatively coupled via thecommunication interface140 to thenetwork110awhich, in turn, can be communicatively coupled to one or more interconnected networks110b-110z. Theexternal computer171 can be communicatively coupled to the network110c.TheEIR system100 can establish a communication session with theexternal computer171. In one embodiment, network frames can be exchanged by theEIR system100 and theexternal computer171 via one or more routers, base stations, and other infrastructure elements. In another embodiment, theexternal computer171 can be reachable by theEIR system100 via a local area network (LAN). In a yet another embodiment, theexternal computer171 can be reachable by the EIR system100cvia a wide area network (WAN). A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that other methods of providing interconnectivity between theEIR system100 and theexternal computer171 relying upon LANs, WANs, virtual private networks (VPNs), and/or other types of network are within the scope of this disclosure.

In one embodiment, the communications between theEIR system100 and theexternal computer171 can comprise a series of HTTP requests and responses transmitted over one or more TCP connections. A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that using other transport and application level protocols is within the scope and the spirit of the invention.

In one embodiment, theexternal computer171 can host an item tracking database. At least one of the messages transmitted by theEIR system100 to theexternal computer171 can include decoded message data corresponding to, e.g., an RFID label attached to an inventory item. For example, anEIR system100 can transmit a request to the host computer to modify the item location record responsive to detecting a new item placed within the manufacturing, retail, or storage facility.

In a further aspect, theMID reading device133 can be compliant with EPC™Class-I Generation-2UHF RFID Protocol for Communications at860MHz-960MHzby EPCglobal, commonly known as the “Gen 2” standard, which defines physical and logical requirements for a passive-backscatter, Interrogator-talks-first (ITF) RFID system operating in the 860 MHz-960 MHz frequency range.

In one embodiment, theEIR system100 can transmit information to a passive RFID tag by modulating an RF signal in the 860-960 MHz frequency range. An RFID tag can receive both information and operating energy from the RF signal transmitted by theEIR system100. TheEIR system100 can receive information from the RFID tag by transmitting a continuous-wave (CW) RF signal to the MID tag. “Continuous wave” can refer to any waveform transmitted by an RFID reading device and suitable to power a passive RFID tag, e.g., a sinusoid at a given frequency. The RFID tag can respond by modulating the reflection coefficient of its antenna, thus backscattering an information signal to theEIR system100. In one embodiment, the RFID tag can modulate the reflection coefficient of its antenna only responsive to receiving an RFID signal from theEIR system100.

In a further aspect, theEIR system100 can be configured to send information to one or more MD tags by modulating an RF carrier using double-sideband amplitude shift keying (DSB-ASK), single-sideband amplitude shift keying (DSB-ASK), or phase-reversal amplitude shift-keying (PR-ASK) using a pulse-interval encoding (PIE) format. RFID tags can receive their operating energy from the same modulated RF carrier.

In another aspect, theEIR system100 can establish one or more sessions with one or more RFID tags. An RFID tag can support at least one session-dependent flag for every session. The session-dependent flag can have two states. An RFID tag can invert a session-dependent flag responsive to receiving a command from theEIR system100. Tag resources other than session-dependent flags can be shared among sessions. In another aspect, an RFID tag can support a selected status flag indicating that the tag was selected by theEIR system100.

Responsive to receiving an interrogation signal transmitted by theEIR system100, an RFID tag can transmit a response signal back to theEIR system100. The response signal can contain useful data, e.g., an Electronic Product Code (EPC) identifier, or a tag identifier (TID). The response signal can include a representation of a binary string, at least part of which is equal to at least part one of the specified one or more target item identifiers.

In one embodiment, theEIR system100 can implementEPC™ Class-1Generation-2UHF RFID Protocol for Communications at860MHz-960MHzby EPCglobal. TheEIR system100 can interrogate RFID tags using the commands described herein infra.

Select command can be used by theEIR system100 to select a particular RFID tag population for the subsequent inventory round. Select command can be applied successively to select a particular tag population based on user-specified criteria. Select command can include the following parameters:

- Target parameter indicates whether Select command modifies a tag's SL flag or Inventoried flag, and in the latter case it further specifies one of four available sessions (S0, . . . , S3);
- Action parameter indicates whether matching tags assert or deassert SL flag, or set their Inventoried flag to A or B state; tags conforming to the contents of MemBank, Pointer, Length, and Mask parameters are considered to be matching;
- Mask parameter contains a bit string that a tag should compare to a memory location specified by MemBank, Pointer, and Length parameters;
- MemBank parameter specifies the memory bank to which Mask parameter refers (EPC, TID, or User);
- Pointer parameter specifies a memory start location for Mask;
- Length parameter specifies the number of bits of memory for Mask; if Length is equal to zero, all tags are considered matching.

Inventory command set can be used by theEIR system100 to single out one or more individual tags from a group. A tag can maintain up to four simultaneous sessions and a binary Inventoried flag for each session. Inventory command set includes the following commands:

- Query command can be used to initiate and specify an inventory round; it contains a slot counter value (Q=0 to 15) determining the number of slots in the round; the command also includes Sel parameter specifying which tags should respond to the Query.
- QueryAdjust command can be used to adjust the value of the tag's slot counter Q without changing any other parameters;
- QueryRep command can be used to repeat the last Query command;
- Ack command can be used to acknowledge a tag's response;
- NAK command can be used to force a tag to change its state to Arbitrate.

An RFID tag can implement a state machine. Once energized, a tag can change its current state to Ready. A selected tag can, responsive to receiving Query command, select a random integer from the range of [0; 2^Q−1]. If the value of zero is selected, the tag can transition to Reply state, backscattering a 16-bit random number. If a non-zero value is selected, the tag can load the selected random integer into its slot counter and change its state to Arbitrate.

Responsive to receiving the tag transmission, theEIR system100 can acknowledge it with Ack command containing the same random number. Responsive to receiving Ack command, the tag can change its state to Acknowledged and backscatter its protocol control (PC) bits, EPC and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value. Unacknowledged tag can select a new random integer from the range of [0; 2^Q−1], load the value into its slot counter, and change its state to Arbitrate. Responsive to receiving QueryAdjust command, a tag in the Arbitrate state should decrement the value of its slot counter and backscatter its protocol control (PC) bits, EPC and CRC value if its slot counter is equal to zero.

Responsive to receiving the tag's transmission of its PC, EPC and 16-bit CRC value, the EIR system can send a QueryAdjust command causing the tag to invert its Inventoried flag and to transition to Ready state.

Access command set can be used by theEIR system100 for communicating with (reading from and writing to) a tag. An individual tag must be uniquely identified prior to access. Access command set includes the following commands:

ReqRn command can be used by theEIR system100 to request a handle from a tag; the handle can be used in the subsequent Access command set commands. Responsive to receiving Req_RN commands, a tag returns a 16-bit random integer (handle) and transitions from Acknowledged to Open or Secured state.

Read command can be used by theEIR system100 to read tag's Reserved, EPC, TID and User memory;

Write command can be used by theEIR system100 to write to tag's Reserved, EPC, TID and User memory;

Kill command can be used by theEIR system100 to permanently disable a tag;

Lock command can be used by theEIR system100 to lock passwords preventing subsequent read or write operations; lock individual memory banks preventing subsequent write operations; permanently lock the lock status of passwords or memory banks;

Access command can be used by theEIR system100 to cause a tag having a non-zero access password to transition from Open to Secured state.

A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that other methods of interrogating RFID tags by theEIR system100 are within the scope of this disclosure.

In a further aspect, at least one antenna155a-155zcan be provided by a metamaterial (MTM) antenna. Metamaterials are artificial composite materials engineered to produce a desired electromagnetic behavior which surpasses that of natural materials. MTM-based objects can include structures which are much smaller than the wavelength of electromagnetic waves propagating through the material. MTM technology advantageously allows for precise control of the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the confines of small structures by determining the values of operating parameters which can include operating frequency, bandwidth, phase offsets, constant phase propagation, matching conditions, and number and positioning of ports.

In one aspect, an MTM antenna can be physically small as compared to other types of antennas: an MTM antenna can be sized, for example, on the order of one tenths of a signal's wavelength, while providing performance equal to or better than an antenna made of a conventional material and sized on the order of one half of the signal's wavelength. Thus, for a frequency range of 860 MHz-930 MHz, an MTM antenna can have a size of 33 mm or less.

The ability of an MTM antenna to produce a desired electromagnetic behavior can be explained by the fact that while most natural materials are right-handed (RH) materials (i.e. propagation of electromagnetic waves in natural materials follows the right-hand rule for the trio (E, H, β), where E is the electrical field, H is the magnetic field, and β is the phase velocity) exhibiting a positive refractive index, a metamaterial due to its artificial structure can exhibit a negative refractive index and follow the left-hand rule for the trio (E, H, β). A metamaterial exhibiting a negative refractive index can be a pure left-handed (LH) metamaterial by simultaneously having negative permittivity and permeability. A metamaterial can combine RH and LH features (Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) materials).

In one embodiment, antenna155a-155zcan be provided by a multiple cell MTM antenna shown inFIGS. 4a(top view) and4b(3D view). Antenna155a-155zcan comprise one or more conductive cell patches202a-202zthat can be mounted on a dielectric substrate, provided, for example, by a printed circuit board (PCB)210. Conductive cell patches202a-202zcan be spatially separated so that capacitive couplings between adjacent cell patches can be created. Also disposed on thedielectric substrate210 can afeed pad214 that can be provided, e.g., by a metallic plate and can be connected to aconductive feed line216.Conductive feed line216 can be provided, e.g., by metallic a strip.Conductive feed line216 can be located close but separately from conductive cell patches202a-202b.A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that MTM antennas having two or more conductive feed lines are within the scope of this disclosure. A ground plane can be provided by a metallic layer disposed on the bottom side of PCB210 (not shown inFIG. 4a). Each cell patch can be connected to the ground plane by a via.

In one embodiment, antenna155a-155zcan be provided by a multiple cell MTM antenna shown inFIGS. 5a(top view),5b(bottom view), and5c(3D view). Antenna155a-155zcan comprise one or more conductive cell patches302a-302zthat can be mounted on a dielectric substrate, provided, for example, by a printed circuit board (PCB)310. Conductive cell patches302a-302zcan be spatially separated so that capacitive couplings between adjacent cell patches can be created. Also disposed on the top surface ofdielectric substrate310 can be afeed pad314 that can be provided, e.g., by a metallic plate and can be connected to aconductive feed line316.Conductive feed line316 can be provided, e.g., by a metallic strip, and can be located close but separately from conductive cell patches302a-302z.A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that MTM antennas having one or more conductive feed lines are within the scope of this disclosure. At least one conductive feed line can comprise afeed line tuner322 provided by a conductive strip having a curved line form or an open polygon line form. A feed line tuner can be used to adjust resonant frequency of antenna155a-155zas explained herein infra.

In one embodiment,feed pad314 can be electrically coupled tocoaxial cable connector315. In one embodiment, shown inFIG. 5c,coaxial cable connector315 can be connected from the bottom side of antenna155a-155z.In another embodiment,coaxial cable connector315 can be connected from a lateral side of antenna155a-155z.In a yet another embodiment,feed pad314 can be electrically coupled to a twisted cable.

Also disposed on the top surface ofdielectric substrate310 can be one or more ground planes312a-312zprovided, e.g., by one or more metallic plates.

One or more conductive cell patches302a-302zcan be connected by one or more vias342a-342zto one or more conductive via lines352a-352zdisposed on the bottom surface ofdielectric substrate310. At least one conductive via line352a-352zcan comprise a via line tuner354a-354zprovided by a conductive strip having a curved line form or an open polygon line form. A via line tuner can be used to adjust resonant frequency of antenna155a-155zas explained herein infra. Also disposed on the bottom surface ofdielectric substrate310 can be abottom ground plane360.

In one embodiment,dielectric substrate310 can have a folded plane form-factor, as shown inFIGS. 6a(3D view) and6b(side view). The gap between the two ends of the folded plane can be unfilled (air gap) or can be filled with a dielectric material. The folded design can advantageously offer extra air gap (or can be filled with other material). In another aspect, due to the folded design, a multi-layer MTM design can be implemented without inter-connections.

In one embodiment,dielectric substrate310 can have a curved plane form-factor, as shown inFIGS. 7a(3D view) and7b(side view). The gap between the two ends of the folded plane can be unfilled (air gap) or can be filled with a dielectric material. A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that MTM antennas mounted on dielectric substrates having a more complex form factors (e.g., a 3D surface) are within the scope of this disclosure. A curved surface can advantageously provide additional tune to the antenna directivity. A more complicated 3D surface can be constructed by folding and wrapping on object having a desired shape, such as a cone.

In one embodiment, antenna155a-155zcan be provided by a mushroom-shape MTM antenna shown inFIGS. 8a(top view) and8b(3D view). In one embodiment, the gap between thefeed line602 and thetop patch604 can form a capacitor (left-hand); the via between thetop patch604 and thebottom ground608 can form an inductance (left-hand).

In a further aspect, antenna155a-155zcan be broadband, ultrawideband (UWB), or multiband (MB). Antenna155a-155zcan be designed to support the desired functionality and characteristics. Antenna size, resonant frequencies, bandwidth, and matching properties can be controlled by changing the antenna design parameters including number and size of cells, the gap between the cells, the gap between the feed line and the cells, the size (radius and height) and location of vias, the length and width of the feed line, the length and width of the via line, the material and thickness of the substrate, and various other dimensions and layouts.

Antenna size and resonant frequency can be controlled by the patch shape and size. Cell patches can have a rectangular, triangular, circular or other shape. The most efficient antenna area usage can be provided by a rectangular shape. In a further aspect, the resonant frequency can be sensitive to the via line length. To control the via line length, a via line tuner can be provided having a straight line form, a curved line form, or an open polygon line form. The via line length can be used to adjust resonant frequency due to its left hand inductive character. In a further aspect, the resonant frequency can be sensitive to the feed line length and the size of the gap between a feed line and a cell patch. To control the feed line length, a feed line tuner can be provided having a straight line form, a curved line form, or an open polygon line form. The feed line length can be used to adjust resonant frequency due to its left hand capacitive character. In a further aspect, the resonant frequency can be sensitive to the thickness of the substrate on which the antenna components are disposed. The substrate thickness can range from 0.1 mm to 150 mm depending upon the substrate material. Various materials having different permittivity can be used, for example, but not limited to, FR4 (ε_r=4.4), Getek (ε_r=4.0), Polyimide (ε_r=3.5), Polyester (ε_r=3.9), Arlon AD250 (ε_r=2.5), RT/duroid 5880 (ε_r=2.2), etc.

In another aspect, an antenna can comprise a single cell or multiple cells. A multi-cell antenna can have a smaller resonant frequency shift as compared to a single cell antenna, but also can have a higher peak gain due to a better beam concentration.

In another aspect, the antenna return loss can be controlled by the radius of one or more vias that connect the cell patches and the ground plane: vias having smaller radius can provide a better return loss.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be affected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by claims that can be supported by the written description and drawings. Further, where exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a certain number of elements it will be understood that the exemplary embodiments can be practiced utilizing less than the certain number of elements.

A small sample of systems methods and apparatus that are described herein is as follows:

A1. An encoded information reading (EIR) system comprising:
a microprocessor communicatively coupled to a system bus;
a memory communicatively coupled to said system bus;
at least one RFID reading device communicatively coupled to said system bus;
two or more external antennas, each antenna of said two or more antennas being electrically coupled to a multiplexing circuit via a coaxial cable;
wherein said multiplexing circuit is configured to electrically couple each antenna of said two or more antennas to said RFD reading device by using one of: a time division method, a frequency division method;
wherein said external antennas are disposed according to a spatial pattern configured to provide a spatially continuous RFID signal reception within one of: a pre-defined area, a pre-defined volume;
wherein said two or more antennas are configured to receive RFID signals from a plurality of RFID tags disposed within a radio frequency range of said two or more antennas, said RFID tags being attached to a plurality of items; and
wherein said EIR system is configured to store in said memory a plurality of responses received from said plurality of RFID tags.
A2. The EIR system of A1, wherein said multiplexing circuit is configured to electrically couple each antenna of said two or more antennas to said RFID reading device for a pre-defined period of time in a pre-defined sequential manner.
A3. The EIR system of A1, wherein said multiplexing circuit is configured to shift a frequency of a first signal received by an antenna of said two or more antennas before feeding said first signal into said RFID reading device; and
wherein said multiplexing circuit is further configured to shift a frequency of a second signal to be transmitted by an antenna before feeding said second signal to said antenna by said RFID reading device.
A4. The EIR system of A1, wherein said multiplexing circuit comprises one or more hardware components.
A5. The EIR system of A1, wherein said multiplexing circuit comprises one or more software components.
A6. The EIR system of A1, wherein said plurality of responses received from said plurality of RFID tags include one of: a product code, an EPC code, an RFID tag identifier, and an alphanumeric string.
A7. The EIR system of A1, wherein said two or more external antennas are mounted on one or more storage shelves.
A8. The EIR system of A1, wherein said two or more external antennas are mounted on a vending machine.
A9. The EIR system of A1, further configured to transmit to an external computer at least one message based on said plurality of responses received from said plurality of RFID tags.
A10. The EIR system of A1, further comprising a software module for processing data received from said plurality of RFID tags.
A11. The EIR system of A1, wherein at least one antenna of said two or more external antennas is fabricated of a material having a composite right- and left-handed (CRLH) structure.
A12. The EIR system of A1, wherein at least one antenna of said two or more external antennas is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB).
A13. The EIR system of A1, wherein at least one antenna of said two or more external antennas is provided by at least one of: a patch cell array comprising one or more patch cells, a patch cell stack comprising two or more patch cells.